Justin Rose returns tro Sheshan International Golf Club this week as defending champion and it is safe to say a lot has happened since he lifted the 2017 WGC-HSBC Champions trophy.
A win the following week at the Turkish Airlines Open gave him a chance of winning the Race to Dubai over the final nine holes of the season but he eventually finished second behind Tommy Fleetwood.
He went one better on the other side of the Atlantic as he won the FedEx Cup and a wonderful run of consistency meant he moved to Number One in the Official World Golf Ranking in September, shortly before playing a key role in Europe's winning Ryder Cup Team.
Hosting the Sky Sports British Masters at Walton Heath Golf Club was the latest in his long list of achievements and for Rose, it all began in Shanghai.
"It's been a special year, it's been a special month," he said. "Going to Number One, the Ryder Cup, the FedEx all happened pretty much off the back of one another.
"British Masters was a huge honour to host that. It's been a really exciting couple of months to be honest with you.
"There's a lot going on this time of year and obviously for me, this time last year, I started to play really well and won a few tournaments right at the back end of the year, which made a huge difference.
"So hopefully looking for something similar. A little bit behind in the Race to Dubai and need a bit of a special run now but I guess I'm coming in here with confidence. My game has been steady enough, a lot of top tens pretty much in the last 12 months.
"It would be great to get in the winner's circle more regularly and starting here would be awesome.
"This tournament absolutely did kick-start some great golf for me that's lasted the best part of the year."
Rose has one of the most consistent all-round games in golf and he believes that accuracy with the driver could be the key to victory this week.
"If you can be brave off the tee on the par fives, I feel like there's quite a bit of an advantage to be had," he said. "I think that's why guys like Dustin (Johnson) and Brooks (Koepka) and myself, we've played well on this golf course before because we drive the ball pretty well generally.
"I think the course is playing well. On a day like today, it was gorgeous out there today.
"The greens are relatively soft. The greens are a speed where you can be very aggressive with the putter, they are rolling at a nice speed. They are very true but they are not overly quick right now. So I think you're going to have to make putts this week."
